News Article

Smart Bicycle Controlled by Smartphone

AMSTERDAM, the Netherlands – Cambridge Consultants has developed a bicycle that can be controlled with your smartphone mounted on the handlebars. The gears are wirelessly linked to a smartphone application that allows the bike to change the gears automatically depending on the incline and cadence. This bicycle could also be updated to include other smart technology like a GPS system and heart monitor.

The combination of monitoring and control allows the system to make automatic gear changes under the control of a smart algorithm running on the smartphone.

“The exciting part about smart technology is the unlimited possibilities to enhance a device and its applications,” said Tim Ensor, business developer in the Wireless division at Cambridge Consultants. “We can also incorporate GPS and map data into the application to make gear changes in anticipation of upcoming hills, for example, or include a heart-rate monitor and other measurement tools to help improve training.”

Smart algorithmThe combination of monitoring and control allows the system to make automatic gear changes under the control of a smart algorithm running on the smartphone. When a rider’s cadence rate slows, the application automatically sends a signal to shift into a lower gear. Bluetooth Smart, a low-energy version of Bluetooth, is used to wirelessly connect the system.

The wireless bicycle was initially designed as a training tool for competitive cyclists to help improve performance and technique. The technology could also be used more broadly.